Osteospermum plant named ‘Fidostpifla’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Fidostpifla’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; relatively short internodes; freely and early flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with red purple and white bi-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIDOSTPIFLA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fidostpifla’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe program is to create and develop new compact Osteospermum plantsthat are freely branching and freely flowering and have attractiveinflorescence coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in May, 2005 of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Fidostpur’, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,540, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number4-965, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newOsteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands in October, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands sinceNovember, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this newOsteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fidostpifla’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fidostpifla’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Relatively short internodes.    -   4. Freely and early flowering habit.    -   5. Large daisy-type inflorescences with red purple and white        bi-colored ray florets.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the female parent,‘Fidostpur’ primarily in ray floret color as plants of ‘Fidostpur’ havedark purple-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the newOsteospermum are more compact than plants of ‘Fidostpur’.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the male parentselection primarily in plant and growth habit as plants of the newOsteospermum are more compact in plant habit and more uniform in growthhabit than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ‘Fidostdapibic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,346.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands,plants of the new Osteospermum are more vigorous and sturdier thanplants of ‘Fidostdapibic’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Fidostpifla’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the spring and early summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands andunder conditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 35° C. and night temperaturesranged from 15° C. to 25° C. Plants were pinched one time. Plants were13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Fidostpifla’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Fidostpur’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,540.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 4-965, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About one week at 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About twelve days            at 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About two weeks at            20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish grey            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;            relatively short internodes, dense and bushy growth habit;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 25 cm to 26 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 26 cm to 27 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching            habit, when pinched, about 14 to 17 primary lateral branches            develop per plant. Length: About 4 cm to 10 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm to 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 3.5 cm.            Strength: Strong, sturdy. Texture: Sparsely pubescent.            Color: Close to 144C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;            sessile. Length: About 6.5 cm to 7 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm            to 3 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Lobed; serrate. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close            to N137B; venation, close to 145C. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 145C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elliptic to            slightly obovate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences            positioned beyond the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles; inflorescences terminal and axillary;            inflorescences face upright; ray and disc florets developing            acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit; about 40 to 50            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In The Netherlands, plants of the new            Osteospermum flower continuously from spring to frost in the            autumn; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            eight weeks after planting.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—At temperatures of 14° C. to 20°            C., inflorescences last about 2.5 weeks on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Globular to ovoid. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (height):            About 8 mm. Disc diameter: About 1.3 cm to 1.5 cm.            Receptacle diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle height: About            4 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 146A.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3.3 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 9 mm            to 10 mm. Shape: Elliptic to slightly obovate. Apex: Rounded            to slightly obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence/arrangement: About 16 in about 1.5 whorls.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 72B; towards the base, close to NN155D; apical color            becoming closer to 79A with development. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Close to N77B.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm.            Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 50. Color,            immature and mature: Apex: Close to 83C. Mid-section: Close            to NN155D. Base: Close to N83A.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 16 in about            1.5 whorls. Length: About 8mm to 12 mm. Width: About 1 mm to            3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 11 cm to 14 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly upright.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 2 mm.            Anther color: Close to N77A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 15B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to N77A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style            color: Close to N81C. Ovary color: Close to NN155D.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Osteospermum.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind    and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Fidostpifla’ asillustrated and described.